Heights of Abraham Welcome to one of the Peak District’s oldest and most popular days out, an attraction where stunning natural beauty is matched by human achievement and the historic blends seamlessly with the futuristic.
Since first opening to visitors in 1780 the Heights of Abraham has remained one of the Peak District’s most appealing destinations. Visitors have travelled from all over the world to experience its unique blend of spectacular Underground Caverns, Exhibitions, Shops, Play Areas, Picnic Spots, Café and Summit Bar all with stunning views in acres of beautiful woodland. In recent times however, the Heights has become rightly famous for its landmark Cable Car system - the first of its kind in the whole of the British Isles.
Added attractions are the “Heath & Heaven” and “Fossil Factory” displays, plus state of the art lighting in the Great Masson Cavern which reveals its magnitude as it has never been seen before. Not forgetting John the Miner who tells the story of a day in the life of a 17th Century Lead Miner in the Great Rutland Cavern.
NEW for 2011 An eciting addition to the play areas is the WODLAND ADVENTURE play area. An exciting mix of slides,climbs and walkways with a fun Eagle nest swing!
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30 May - 5 June: Spring Bank Holiday Activities
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15th April 2011
In the Great Masson Cavern a mass of what can only be described as Troll Snot has come to light. Visitors on guided tours have been asking the guide what is this wet and slimy deposit on the rocks near the exit to the cave system?
After seeking ‘specialist’ advice Operations Director Rupert Pugh commented “We think this is almost certainly Troll Snot. We have thought for years that there is a friendly Troll here on The Heights of Abraham. Each morning we arrive to welcome visitors and the litter has been cleared away and the Caverns are safe and welcoming so someone must have been busy during the night!”
From Sunday April 16th to Thursday 21st a Troll Hunt will be underway led by Troll Hunter Tess of the Woods. Children are invited to bring their parents to help track down the whereabouts of the suspected Troll living on Masson Hill. Hunting parties will set out on the hour from 11am – 3pm starting from outside the Masson Pavilion next to the Explorers Challenge play area at the hilltop summit. Cable Cars to the Top Station start at 10am every day.
Rupert suggested that, “Visitors coming for the day should wear sensible shoes and bring a camera. We have a Photo Competition this summer with a £250 prize for the photo that best captures a day out at The Heights of Abraham, be it funky or just good fun with the family”.
Over the rest of the Easter break there will be an Easter Egg Hunt from Good Friday to Easter Monday, and a Lead Miners Trail from Tuesday to Friday. Over the early May Bank Holiday weekend families will be asked to help with creating a new look for our Mural Wall. The new design will be announced shortly.
(For the faint hearted the ‘Troll Snot’ is actually what can only be described as a ‘flat’ stalagmite. As water dripping through the rocks falls on to the rocks below the limestone deposits build up as they run down the walls creating what looks like a lump of slime. Maybe in a million years or so it will form a stalagmite!)
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Current reviews for Heights of Abraham
Review title : A fun day out for the whole family, added by : Lisa (01/06/2011)
Event reviewed : 30 May - 5 June: Spring Bank Holiday Activities
"We visited the Heights of Abraham on a very wet Bank Holiday Monday and, as I hadn't been for at least 30 years, we were all looking forward to seeing what was on offer.
We were 2 families with 3 children under 6 and, right from the start when we boarded the cable car, we really felt that we were at the start of an adventure.
We parked in the station carpark which was busy but very conveniently located and just a short walk away from the main entrance to the attraction (the Heights of Abraham is perfect if you are travelling by train). We all loved the cable car ride, our son was especially excited when it stopped halfway up the hill and it gave us a fantastic view of the surrounding area and river below.
Our first stop was the outdoor playground which, despite the rain, kept the kids amused and gave them the chance to get rid of some energy. We eventually managed to drag them away and queued up for the tour of the Masson Cavern. The tour, which took about 30 minutes, was led by a very knowledgeable guide, who kept everyone entertained and informed - not easy with a 2 year old who wanted to run off into every dark corner! Yes, there are steps (the last section totals 80) but they were all manageable and no-one was in a rush, so no problems there.
Next was a visit to the Mythical Village, where the kids had a fantastic time messing around with clay, seeds, sticks and all other bits of stuff foraged from the woods to make creatures. They were so proud of their beasties that it was quite tricky to persuade the kids to leave them in the little village but we promised to come back and visit them later in the year to see how nature had changed things.
Time for lunch and we had a very enjoyable time in the Terrace Coffee Shop, which served a wide variety of food and drink at very reasonable prices and much better than the usual fast food you are offered in these kind of attractions. There is also a bar upstairs, which serves meals and drinks, if you feel in need of sustinence!
Unfortunately, after a quick play in the Woodland Play Area, it was time to leave but, as we didn't get to see the exhibition or the Fossil Factory, or visit the other caverns and climb the tower, we will definitely go back later this year. This is a fantastic attraction that the weather cannot spoil and I would highly recommend it for people of all ages."
